The digital privacy of Indian citizens has come into the spotlight once again as according to a new survey by LocalCircles, 67% of respondents—equivalent to 2 in every 3 people—confirm they have seen targeted advertisements on websites or apps based on their private voice conversations. According to LocalCircles, this perceived digital intrusion has climbed from 53% just four years ago.

Widespread voice and chat intrusion

The survey, which garnered over 63,000 responses across 346 districts, indicates that these experiences are not isolated incidents. Among those experiencing voice-based intrusion, 28% reported that it "happens all the time," while 22% stated it occurred "several times" over the last year.

The intrusion appears even more pervasive in text-based communications. Approximately 76% of citizens surveyed reported seeing ads based on their private chat conversations on platforms like WhatsApp and other social media. Of these, 33% noted that such occurrences happen "all the time".

Microphone and contact permissions

A major factor behind this trend is the widespread granting of device permissions. The survey found that 82% of citizens have given microphone access to various apps, including those for audio/video calling, social media, and recording. 12% of users have granted microphone access to "all apps" on their phones.

In addition to audio access, contact list sharing remains exceptionally high:

• WhatsApp: 89% of users have shared their contact lists.

Regulatory and global context

The report also points toward a shifting global and domestic regulatory landscape. Internationally, Google recently agreed to a $68 million settlement over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users, while Meta faces lawsuits regarding WhatsApp's chat privacy.